SP's Naval Forces June-July 2012

June-July 2012

Volume 7 No. 3

`100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only)

TREASURE

HOUSE

visit: www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com

ROUNDUP

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 Cover Story

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Missiles May Cripple But Torpedoes Destroy

Photograph: US Navy

With advancements in technology, a modern torpedo can destroy a target at a range of 40 km and a speed of about 50 kts. Its destructive power is more than a missile and it can easily differentiate between a target and a decoy.

Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr S. Kulshrestha

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Streamline DPP

Report on a day-long conference on the Defence Procurement Procedure organised

by SP Guide Publications in collaboration with ORF in New Delhi on May 2.

Sucheta Das Mohapatra

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When Will Somali Piracy End? Somali pirate groups have effectively dodged naval patrols for over a decade and it is not impossible to assume that they could well continue to do so into the 22nd century Commander Shishir Upadhyaya

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Incarnate Chakra Joins Indian Navy With the extremely robust and reliable conventional Sindhughosh and Shishumar class submarines still in its arsenal, the Indian Navy re-enters the era of nuclear submarine, the true submarines.

Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay

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Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation The Indian Ocean has developed into a new area of India-China conflict. As soon as India announced that it will go ahead with its decision to carry out oil exploration in South China Sea jointly with Vietnam Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand

Plus Show Report: Defexpo 2012 News in Brief

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NAVAL C4ISR CAPABILITIES: Reportedly, Indian Navy’s top brass is in favour of CATOBAR i.e., catapult assisted take-off but arrested recovery, such as the latest EMALS (electro-magnetic aircraft launch system) for its second upcoming indigenous aircraft carrier. This opens up possibilities of acquiring fixed-wing carrier-borne aircraft such as the E-2D Hawkeye (seen here), the only one of its kind, for enhancing Indian Navy’s C4ISR capability.

Blue Water

Networked Force The vision statement of the Indian Navy states that it will be a networked force which can be defined as the force which exploits the state-of-the-art information and networking technology to integrate widely deployed decision-makers, sensors, forces, platforms and weapons into a highly synergised and flexible system to achieve a high degree of mission effectiveness. And C4ISR forms the key attribute of NCW to implement it. n lt general (retd) naresh chand

Vision statement of Indian Navy “In support of the nation’s growing strengths and responsibilities, the Indian Navy is determined to create and sustain a three-dimensional technology-enabled and networked force capable of safeguarding our maritime interests on the high seas and projecting combat power across the littoral.”

From this flows the Maritime Military Doctrine which focuses on the development of capabilities that would enable it to influence the events ashore and to undertake ‘military manoeuvre from the sea’ and lay down the

blueprint of size and shape for the future.

All forms of naval operations including sea control, littoral warfare, safeguarding the sea lanes, coastal security, humanitarian aid, low intensity conflict operations against illegal and undesirable elements, anti-piracy, deterrence and naval diplomacy involve continuous monitoring (domain awareness) and controlling activities (domain domination) in a given maritime area over a period of time which involves thousands of square kilometres of area.

Networked Force The vision statement states that the Indian

Navy will be a networked force which can be defined as the force which exploits the state-of-the-art information and networking technology to integrate widely deployed decision-makers, sensors, forces, platforms and weapons into a highly synergised and flexible system to achieve a high degree of mission effectiveness.

Such type of warfare is commonly termed network-centric warfare (NCW) which is a fundamental shift from platform-centric warfare to NCW. It is also the predominant philosophy of war fighting in the information age. Command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance

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Indian Navy’s vision statement states that it is determined to create and sustain a threedimensional, technology-enabled and ‘networked force’; thus the lead article is on C4SIR which explores the rationale behind networkcentric warfare, the way it will multiply the combat power and possible options available to implement it. Defexpo 2012 was held from March 29 to April 1where SP Guide Publications was the sole official media partner. There were 567 exhibitors from 32 countries (up from 412 in 2010) apart from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), defence public sector undertakings (PSUs), Ordnance Factory Board and many Indian companies. A write-up on it has thus been included to give a ringside view to those readers who for some reason could not make it to Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Then there is an article on torpedoes which remains the mainstay of underwater

weapons but with the support of technology is becoming more and more potent and versatile.

Last year, over 50 ships were hijacked globally out of which more than half were hijacked

by Somali pirates and held for ransom. It is estimated that while in 2010 about $80 million was received by Somali pirates as ransom, in 2011, this figure almost doubled to about $150 million. Thus the aim of the article is to expose the readers to the ongoing initiatives being taken by effected nations and international organisations. Connected with anti-piracy measures is the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) which also promotes the economic agenda of the member countries.

Thus an overview of it has been given.

INS Chakra, a nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Akula class was inducted formally into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister A.K. Antony which brings India closer to home for

acquiring the third part of the triad for ‘credible deterrence’ against its potential adversaries. The other important news was the commissioning of an advanced version of the Talwar class frigate INS Teg at a ceremony at the Yantar Shipyard at Kaliningrad, Russia. Both these issues also bring to the fore the importance of India’s Russian connection. Then there is the usual News in Brief and Flag Appointments and with this happy reading to all you discerning readers.

Jayant BaranwaL Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Photograph: US Coast Guard

Waesche (WMSL 751), the second US Coast Guard National Security cutter built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding

Some examples of C4ISR system ELTA ELTA’s EMCO-NET is a new-generation C4ISR system which enhances the maritime domain awareness level and allows accurate, rapid and coordinated responses of platforms, task forces and navy regional headquarters. It has high degree of reliability, availability, survivability, security and immunity of the network. It supports automated command decision tool for all naval command levels in blue water, littoral and amphibious operations by building a common, unique, accurate, and real-time maritime domain awareness picture. It can also carry out immediate classification, identification, and threat assessment. It has multi-level access communication network like line of sight and satellite communication (SATCOM) which supports voice, data, video and images.

Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin has fitted its C4ISR system on US Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (NSC). Lockheed Martin is responsible for integrating the C4ISR systems, including command and control, communications and navigational systems, while Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding builds the NSC hull, mechanical and electrical systems. The C4ISR systems provide real-time actionable intelligence communicated at “light speed”, according to the Coast Guard’s Commandant for command, control, communications and information technology. The NSC can now act as “the point of the spear” because the C4ISR system can locate a target and guide the ship directly to it. The NSC’s C4ISR systems give the Coast Guard comprehensive, real-time situational awareness, commonality and interoperability with other government agencies and organisations. In addition to the NSC, Lockheed Martin provided the C4ISR missionisation pallets for the Coast Guard’s HC-130J and HC-144A aircraft.

Raytheon Tactical Control System (TCS): TCS provides the US Navy with an advanced unmanned aircraft system control and enables operators to train and operate on one system to simultaneously control multiple unmanned aircraft and payloads. The TCS is designed to operate with all branches of the US armed services and is currently being utilised in two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries, the UK and Canada. The system can be ship-based, land-based or vehicle-based. There are five levels of TCS functionality. Levels I and II enable receipt of imagery. Levels III and IV provide command and control of the air vehicle and payload and imagery receipt. Level V provides complete C2, payload control, imagery receipt, and the ability to take off and land.

Athena Multi-Domain Awareness System: Athena is a network-centric, multidomain C4ISR system for high performance situation awareness, integration, analysis, and knowledge management. It can provide fused homeland defence ISR data integration; cooperative and non-cooperative tracking of maritime/air/land threats at long ranges. It is scalable from local to worldwide applications. It can operate inshore, nearshore and offshore. It should be very effective in coastal security. SP

and reconnaissance (C4ISR) forms the key attribute of NCW to implement it.

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C4ISR In concept, C4ISR is simple. Airborne, spacebased, underwater and surface-based sensors provide information through surveillance and reconnaissance. This information is then converted into intelligence which is used for faster decision-making, enabling effective command and control. Rapid sharing of information and intelligence simultaneously provides flexibility in dispersal and concentration of forces and firepower.

Computers provide automation, rapid collation of information and converting it into intelligence, resulting in faster and accurate decision-making. Sensors use the complete electromagnetic spectrum for providing situational awareness in addition to the acousticbased sensors like sonar. Reliable and secure

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communications is the backbone of C4ISR. C4ISR for future naval information operations include both offensive (information warfare) and defensive (information assurance). Interoperability within inter and intra service and finally at national level, is also an essential ingredient of an efficient C4ISR. Converting C4ISR concept into reality with appropriate technologies is the difficult part.

Mission cycle time In offensive operations, it is essential that the targets are identified, plans made and forces and fire power deployed and employed rapidly. During defensive operations, it is again paramount that the attacking forces along with their weapon platforms is detected, identified and neutralised as early as possible as the potential adversary controls the timing of the start of the hostilities. The main contribution

of C4ISR towards all type of operations is the reduction of mission-cycle time or as called in the US as F2T2EA (find, fix, track, target, engage, assess). The mission-cycle time includes not only the time required for detecting or identifying a threat but also includes the time for dissemination of information and decisions to all concerned through the C4ISR. Experience shows that losses to own forces and resources required for operations can be reduced if the opponent can be engaged at the very outset.

Technology can improve the time available to detect and react to a threat and to shorten the F2T2EA cycle time through additional and more effective C4ISR. Terrorists can strike with very little resources with maximum effect and are not held back by deterrence based solely on the strength of a response. But if strength can also be combined with speed of response

then counterterrorism will get much more effective. This was clearly illustrated by the 26/11, 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack where by the time National Security Guard got its act together from Delhi, the terrorists had done the damage and were wellentrenched. The reaction time of the subsystems including the weapon systems should be so designed as to suit the mission cycle time required of a task force.

C4ISR can only facilitate in streamlining and speeding up the mission cycle time. For example, the speed of communication will play a key role in the time required to initiate the action to the time the effect can be seen. Adequate sensors should be available so that reliable and accurate intelligence is available to enable real time/near real time response. Reduction of mission-cycle time also increases the number of engagements and thereby results in more targets

Cover story engaged. While planning the mission-cycle time, it should be ensured that the information should not get outdated and thus the ISR cycle should have a faster target data renewal rates. This aspect will be more important when the naval forces respond to manoeuvring elements of opposing forces.

Sensors Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) sensors must cover the area of responsibility, provide adequate sensitivity, resolution and accuracy to detect and identify the targets. The sensor requirement for Naval ISR is very complex and covers underwater, surface and airborne systems. Mobile targets need to be tracked and updated continuously and static targets updated periodically. When a target has been identified for engagement, the commander has to decide as to what resources are required to engage it effectively and finally obtain battle damage assessment through ISR. Time on target for surveillance will also depend on the type of the target. For example, the detection of a launcher being prepared for launch may leave very less time for a preemptive strike, whereas continuous surveillance to find a concealed launcher could enable an effective strike.

The detection of incoming objects at the earliest implies the need for wide-area sensor coverage, which means suitable deployment of surface, airborne, and spacebased sensors. For example, an incoming, supersonic, low-flying cruise missile may be launched 80 km away from a US Navy ship but may be detected by ship radar only at 22 km due to the radar horizon. Thus the ship has a very small reaction window to engage the cruise missile. However, if a cooperative engagement capability exists in which a sensor network of E-2C aircraft is in place for early detection of the cruise missile, then the ship will have adequate response time in place. Thus the value of early detection cannot be overemphasised. The value of identification of friend and foe (IFF) is essential for engaging enemy or potentially hostile targets. IFF becomes more critical as short mission-cycle times require integrated systems that may be geographically dispersed.

C4ISR as a system The C4ISR system should be flexible in order to adapt to multiple situations, ensure adequate fidelity for having faith in the data and effective integration so that number of personnel and steps are reduced in the process. The networking of the system should support mission time cycles, provide information assurance and work in hostile environment. Reliable and real time/near real time communications are essential for an effective C4ISR system which includes that the ships have adequate connectivity, antenna coverage and bandwidth.

Dissemination of tactical information and data fusion The source of information will be from the combat sensors of ships and air-borne platforms as well as from theatre and national assets. Thus the requirement to sift the data and also carry out judicious data fusion is essential otherwise the commanders will be burdened with unnecessary or

In NCO, naval forces are networked by C4ISR to carry out missions through the application of acquiring, processing, disseminating, and using information and information networks

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stale data. The ultimate aim is to be able to link any sensor to any weapon, regardless of location, provided it is within the weapons range. Similarly, the command and control system of the combat elements must be capable of providing a commander all the information readily available for the decision-making process.

Integration of C4ISR with NCO Network-centric operations (NCO) flows out of NCW and exploits state-of-the-art information and networking technology to integrate widely dispersed forces and platforms.

Intelligence of the enemy or potential enemy has always been the basis of planning of all

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military operations. In NCO, naval forces are networked by C4ISR to carry out missions through the application of acquiring, processing, disseminating, and using information and information networks. Information technology has now provided such powerful tools that they have overtaken the capabilities of individual weapon platforms by integrating and multiplying their individual capabilities. NCO enables the commanders with timely and reliable intelligence to take rapid decisions. The force commanders operating in the network-centric mode will be able to concentrate widely dispersed forces at decisive locations and in a time bound manner.

NCO will achieve greater accuracy, minimise

own casualties, and reduce civilian damage with a speed which will surprise and overwhelm the enemy, thereby defeating him.

US Vice President Richard Cheney had earlier stated that “net-centric warfare’s effectiveness has greatly improved in 12 years. Desert Storm forces, involving more than 5,00,000 troops, were supported with 100 Mbit/s of bandwidth. Today, OIF forces, with about 3,50,000 war fighters, had more than 3,000 Mbit/s of satellite bandwidth, which is 30 times more bandwidth for a force 45 per cent smaller. The US troops essentially used the same weapon platforms used in Operation Desert Storm with significantly increased effectiveness”. SP

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Indigenisation Mantra to the Fore

As the Indian defence forces and homeland security acquisition needs are growing, there is an enhanced momentum in defence production and procurement. Hence, the tune at focus seventh edition of Defexpo 2012 was to enhance private sector participation and revitalise the public sector to accelerate defence production in India.

PhotographS: Sp Guide Pubns

(Above) Defence Minister A.K. Antony inaugurates Defexpo 2012 by lighting a lamp in New Delhi on March 29, 2012; (Top middle) Defence Minister A.K. Antony addressing the audience at the inauguration (Top right) Heavy Weight Torpedo Varunastra and Light Weight Torpedo TAL; (Above middle) Minister of State for Defence Dr M.M. Pallam Raju addressing the audience (Above right) Dr M.M. Pallam Raju interacts with the exhibitors.

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hat India will continue to be one of the biggest defence markets for some time to come is obvious to the world. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) heading to India in droves are a natural corollary and Defexpo 2012 made an emphatic statement to that effect.

Defexpo 2012, jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), brought 567 exhibitors from 32 countries (up from 412 in 2010) for the country’s biggest-ever land, naval and homeland security systems exhibition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from March 29 to April 1.

India focus The mantra at the seventh edition of Defexpo 2012 was to enhance private sector participation and revitalise the public sector to accelerate defence production in India.

The agenda for this was set by the Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, who inaugurated the event. The editorial team of SP Guide Publications which spoke to a number of OEMs and defence officials found that they were enthused by the market prospects.

www.spsnavalforces.net

Defence outsourcing hub With the introduction of the Defence Offset policy, India is gradually becoming a key outsourcing hub for the global defence industry. The Minister of State for Defence Dr M.M. Pallam Raju said that the introduction of the new category of acquisition ‘Buy and Make (Indian) is a major shift enabling Indian industries to enter into joint ventures with foreign OEMs. The route opened up ways for technology transfer.

the Indian naval, land and defence market and is eyeing the larger calibre gun segment besides the unmanned turret for the armoured vehicles. Accordingly, the company will participate in a tender for the supply of a large calibre gun to be installed on board the new Indian Navy vessels. The gun offered is a state-of-the-art system, including capability to fire the extended range Vulcano guided ammunition with a range of over 100 km. The supply would also include transfer of technology on the lines of its collaboration with the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited for manufacture of the 76/62 SR naval gun. The company has also showcased its 127/64 LW large calibre gun at the show.

Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) WASS unveiled the Flash Black torpedo during the Defexpo 2012, which according to the company is the world’s first next generation lightweight torpedo. The torpedo which is yet to be developed has finished the design stage and will take 26 months from the start of the development. WASS is planning to talk to the Defence Research and Development Organisation for possible collaboration. The design of the Flash Back is highly versatile with the capability to be launched from multiple platforms (underwater and AUV, UUV and USV), against any target and in any environment, including littoral waters and extremely shallow bottom depths and in the presence of the most sophisticated countermeasures.

Mahindras enter into JVs Mahindra & Mahindra Limited announced two joint ventures —first with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the other with Telephonics Corporation, subsidiary of the North America’s Griffon Corporation.

Oto Melara

Selex Galileo

Oto Melara is looking for a greater share of

Selex Galileo has signed a contract with the

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Indian Navy to provide support and service solutions through to 2022 worth £21 million ($34 million). The agreement will see Selex Galileo supporting the avionics facility at the Centre for Avionics Repair and Software Development (CARES) at India’s Naval Aircraft Yard in Kochi.

DCNS DCNS has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay for cooperation in education and research programmes in naval defence and energy.

Tata’s showstopper The Tatas had many products on display including the LPTA 5252 12X12 Prahaar missile system, the 8X8 Pinaka container, the 8x8 and 6x6 carrier and the mine protected vehicle (MPV).

MKU ties up with German firm MKU, India’s leading manufacturer and supplier of ballistic protection and surveillance equipment for armed forces, paramilitary forces and police worldwide announced a 50:50 joint venture with EIS Electronics GMBH from Germany to form EIS Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.

SAAB at Defexpo 2012 In an interaction with SP’s Naval Forces, Inderjit Sial, Managing Director, Saab India Technologies Pvt Ltd stated that with Saab’s exports rising steadily, the company was exploring options worldwide.

At the exhibition this year, Saab’s primary focus was on land and naval systems, with emphasis on the RBS 70 NG missile system.

Saab also displayed its underwater AUV systems and the C4I systems, along with camouflage and a variety of other parts of the product portfolio. Saab has also responded to a RFP for electronic defence systems for the Indian Army’s T-90 upgradation programme.

Saab has offered the Saab 2000 mediumrange maritime patrol aircraft, the Sea Gripen carrier version of the single engine fighter aircraft, self-propelled underwater acoustic target with the modular and reconfigurable autonomous underwater vehicle, AUV 62 and the Sea Giraffe. The other systems for the Indian Navy include heavy weight and light weight air and surface launched torpedoes as portable diver detection and interdiction and hull inspection systems. Saab is also offering the anti-ship missile, RBS-15, in response to Navy’s requirements for mobile coastal missile systems.

Raytheon’s Athena multi-domain awareness system During the show, Raytheon carried out an exclusive briefing for SP’s Naval Forces to highlight the benefits of Project Athena.

Athena is a network-centric, multidomain C4ISR system for high performance situation awareness, fusion, and analysis and knowledge management.

Mk 54 light weight torpedo Mk 54 is a light-weight torpedo designed for operating both in deep waters and littoral environment. MK54 can be deployed on surface ships, helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft to track, classify and attack underwater targets. It is integrated onboard the MH60R maritime helicopter and is its primary weapon for ASW capability. Recently, it has been successfully launched by the US Navy from the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which the Indian Navy is also acquiring.

ATK’s array of products The company has many systems and components which are deployed on naval platforms. ATK produces the solid divert and attitude control system (SDACS) for the Standard Missile 3 which is a ship-based missile system as a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. ATK provides

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(Left to Right) SP Guide Publications CMD and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal presenting a bouquet of flowers to Defence Minister A.K. Antony at SP Guide Publications booth; Jayant Baranwal welcoming the Minister of State for Defence Dr M.M. Pallam Raju to SP Guide Publications booth; Vice Admiral Paras Nath, Controller of Logistics, IHQ, MoD (Navy) with Jayant Baranwal and Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay of SP Guide Publications; Raj Kumar Sharma, President, Defence Punj Lloyd and Rear Admiral S.M. Vadgaonkar, IHQ, MoD (Navy) with Jayant Baranwal and Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay.

missile propulsion for Trident II, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, SM-3, RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, Harpoon and many others. ATK also provides a wide range of medium-calibre gun systems, ammunition and motion stabilised remote weapon systems for water craft of all sizes.

Indigenous Shipbuilding Industry Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL): MDL, the leading defence shipyard of the country is flushed with orders for warship construction for the Indian Navy for the next 15 years and beyond. The first ship of Project 15A, the Kolkata class is expected to be delivered within a year’s time. The balance two ships are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014. Likewise, the first destroyer under Project 15B is planned for delivery during 2018 and the remaining three ships at intervals of two years i.e.

2020, 2022 and 2024. Another prestigious project of seven stealth frigates, contract for which is expected to be awarded during 2012, entails joint construction of frigates at MDL and the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE).

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd: GRSE is currently engaged in construction of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes under Project 28.

First of the four ASW corvettes of 2,500tonne each is schedule to be commissioned by end 2012.

Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL): GSL has been exporting non-lethal vessels to many countries, some of which include Yemen, Mozambique and Oman. GSL now aspires to export vessels which have greater complexity.

Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL): HSL is the latest to join the defence shipyard of the country. Currently, HSL has orders for 13 inshore patrol vessels for the Coast Guard and 20 minor crafts for the Indian Navy. The shipyard has also been nominated for construction of two amphibious warfare ships, called the landing platform dock. Since HSL is already doing the refit of INS Sindhukirti, a kilo class diesel-electric submarine, upgrading the infrastructure for submarine construction would not be difficult.

Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd: Pipavav Shipyard is the only Indian yard which has a 688 m Quay and can accommodate vessels ranging from

Norbert Ducrot Senior Executive Vice President Asia Pacific, Eurocopter

‘We are proposing AS565 MBe Panther for ICG’ SP’s Naval Forces (SP’s): Can you tell us about your cooperation with Indian Navy?

Norbert Ducrot (Ducrot): We already have a very successful partnership with HAL. Eurocopter/HAL licensed production has been the foundation of the Indian helicopter industry for the last five decades where over 600 Cheetahs and Chetaks have been produced.

SP’s: What naval capabilities did you showcase during Defexpo 2012?

Ducrot: For the Indian Coast Guard, we are proposing the AS565 MBe Panther (naval version) for their requirement for ship-based light/medium helicopters, and the EC725 for their shore-based helicopter need. The Naval Panther will also be proposed for the Indian Navy’s anticipated acquisition of utility helicopters.

The AS565 MBe Naval Panther is service-proven at high availability rates with many of the world’s naval forces and coast guard services. It is an all-weather, multirole light helicopter tailored for operations from ship decks, offshore platforms and land bases, with demonstrated capa-

bilities to cover the entire range of Indian Navy and Coast Guard mission requirements—including maritime surveillance, search and rescue, offshore patrolling and counterterrorism, casualty evacuation and vertical replenishment.

For the Indian Coast Guard’s need for shore-based helicopters, Eurocopter’s twin-engine EC725 offers a proven rotorcraft based on the Super Puma/Cougar family. With its all-weather capability, range, heavy-lift capacity and complete systems package, the EC725 delivers the combat search and rescue (CSAR) performance required by India.

SP’s: What kind of future do you foresee with India in the next 10-20 years?

Ducrot: There was an overall slowdown in the Indian helicopter sector in 2010 and 2011, but we can see a recovery in 2012 with an annual growth rate of about 20 per cent. Hence we can expect to see more than 500 civil helicopters in India by 2015. SP For complete versions, log on to: www.spsnavalforces.net

OPVs to corvettes, LPDs, frigates, destroyers, submarines and even aircraft carriers.

The yard has recently built and commissioned a 75,000 tonne commercial carrier, till now the largest vessel ever to be built in India. The shipyard’s second dry dock is under construction and once completed, it will be the largest dry dock in the world with dimensions of 740 m x 90 m. Pipavav Defence has emerged as the first private sector shipyard to be awarded a licence by MoD to manufacture warships. Subsequently, the shipyard has secured an order to build five NOPVs for the Indian Navy.

US-India partnership strengthens The US-India Business Council (USIBC) Executive Defence Mission to Defexpo signalled the deepened defence and security partnership between the United States and India.

The Executive Mission was led by General (Retd) Paul J. Kern, Senior Counsellor, Cohen Group and Vice Admiral (Retd) Kevin J. Cosgriff, Senior Vice President, International Business and Government, Textron Systems.

On display were current offerings such as Textron Systems’ ground-based smart weapons and naval common unmanned

surface vessel, BAE Systems’ M777 155mm lightweight howitzer, armoured security and light combat vehicles, tactical communications equipment, integrated weapons systems, thermal imaging technologies, and network munitions systems.

France Pavilion The French pavilion coordinated by GICAN, the French Marine Industry Association, and GICAT, the French Land Defence Industry Association had exhibitors such as Alkan, ASB Aerospatiale Batteries, CILAS, CNIM, DCI, DCNS, EADS, ECA EN, ECA Robotics, ELNO SN, Eurenco, Euronaval, Eurosatory, Exxelia, MBDA, Nexter, Panhard, Renault Trucks Defence, Thales, etc.

Israel and Russian dominance continues Both the countries which have had longstanding defence partnership with India were present in substantial numbers. SP With inputs from R. Chandrakanth, Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia, Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey, Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand, Rear Admiral (Retd) S. Ramsay and Sucheta Das Mohapatra

Frederick M. Strader President and CEO Textron Systems

‘We seek to be a long-standing, trusted partner’ SP’s Naval Forces (SP’s): What naval capabilities did you showcase during Defexpo 2012 held recently?

Strader: The capabilities showcased at Defexpo include: Common unmanned surface vessel (CUSV): The fleet-class CUSV offers multimission capabilities with a reconfigurable payload bay, sliding autonomy, and high tow force capacity. It delivers proven command and control, adapted from AAI Unmanned aircraft systems’ battle-proven One System architecture, and provides power and performance while being selfrighting and operational through Sea State 4. CUSV has excelled during several recent US Navy exercises, accumulating more than 800 hours of in-water operations, and is ready for use today.

Landing craft, air cushion (LCAC): Textron Marine & Land Systems’ LCAC is a high-speed, over-the-beach, fully amphibious landing craft capable of carrying up to 75 tonnes of payload at speeds over 40 knots. It’s a proven cornerstone of the US amphibious programme and a revolutionary means to land at more than 80 per

cent of the world’s shorelines. Supporting military or humanitarian missions, LCAC is designed to function in extreme conditions ranging from Arctic cold to Sahara heat.

SP’s: How would you rate the potential in India versus other Asian countries?

Strader: Needs across the region vary and we give importance on all our customers across the world. We are paying particular attention to the growing requirements of the Indian Government, armed forces and security agencies as we seek to be a long-standing, trusted partner to India and its defence industry.

SP’s: What kind of future do you foresee with India in next 10-20 years?

Strader: The trends are very positive. Textron and its businesses are committed to developing strong relationships with the government and industry of India. We also are developing industrial relationships with key Indian companies to address the future defence and security needs of India. SP For complete versions, log on to: www.spsnavalforces.net

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Torpedos

Missiles May Cripple But

Torpedoes Destroy

With advancements in technology, a modern torpedo can destroy a target at a range of 40 km and a speed of about 50 kts. Its destructive power is more than a missile and it can easily differentiate between a target and a decoy.

Photographs: US Navy, DCNS

n Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr S. Kulshrestha

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odern surface ships and submarines differ radically as targets with regard to their characteristics of speed, protection, the nature of their sensors and countermeasure capabilities. These characteristics impose specific demands upon the design of weapons required to engage them at high seas; and even in coastal areas, the submarine continues to dominate by virtue of its ability to remain silent and strike lethally.

The medium of sea water does not offer itself to comfortable utilisation by the weapon. It offers resistance to its movement at high speeds, imposes crippling constraints on long-range target detection capability as it is impervious to electro-magnetic waves and in acoustics it hinders by limiting propagation of sound waves in unimaginable ways. These factors give rise to various design restrictions of the weapon.

To meet the underwater threat, a variety of weapons are available on the shelves of the navies, these include: zz Depth charges, mortars and rockets zz Deep sea and coastal mines zz Light weight torpedoes zz Heavy weight torpedoes zz Duel purposes anti-shipping and antisubmarine heavy weight torpedoes Navy is the only service which operates on the surface, subsurface and in the air.

The submarine operates subsurface and is thus the prime platform which uses underwater weapons. Traditionally, the underwater weapons are torpedoes and mines. This trend has undergone a change since the 1970s when submarines began to be armed with anti-ship and later with land-attack missiles but the torpedo still remains the premier underwater weapon. With advancements in technology, a modern torpedo can destroy a target at a range of 40 km and a speed of about 50 kts. Its destructive power is more than a missile and it can easily differentiate between a target and a decoy. Two incidents, post-World War II, demonstrate the accuracy and destructive power of a torpedo. The first was during the Falklands War when General Belgrano, an 8,000 tonne cruiser of Argentina, sank within 45 minutes after being hit by three Second World War II vintage torpedoes. The other example is the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan in March 2010, in which about 46 seamen lost their lives. An investigation concluded that the warship had been sunk by a North Korean torpedo, fired by a midget submarine. For these very potent reasons, torpedoes continue to form about 80 per cent of the weaponry of a submarine. The end of cold war has shifted the underwater threat from deep and fast running nuclear submarines to smaller and quieter diesel electric submarines operating in littoral shallow waters. The stealth factor is further aided by the poor shallow water acoustics, which hinders efficient detection, acquisition, tracking and attack on these vessels.

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With the advent of integrated circuits and microcontrollers, the homing heads have become powerful drivers in guidance of torpedoes, be it passive listening in the initial phase or the active pinging in the attack phase. COTS components with the required ruggedisation enable use of stateof-the-art gyros, accelerometers, and signal processors. Wire guidance using fibre-optic cables has enabled enhanced target classification capabilities, so much so that the operator can not only hear what acoustics the torpedo is picking up, but also ‘see’ what the homing head is looking at.

Lethality: The challenges are the phenomenon of underwater explosion; bubble and hammer effect; contact and standoff explosions underwater; torpedo warhead design and selection basis for underwater explosives. Design of torpedo proximity fuses is based upon circular error of probability qualitative requirements and safety aspects of fuses; probable frequencies of operation of acoustic and electromagnetic fuses based on basic physical laws.

Development of safe and long life explosives has led to warhead fillings of ‘insensitive explosives’. In the terminal phase, the proximity fuses use magnetic, acoustic and laser technologies to determine the optimum distance from the target at which to explode the warhead to inflict maximum damage to the target hull.

MK 46 torpedo launched from the guided missile destroyer USS O’Kane

MU 90 torpedo has a range between 11,000 m and 23,000 m

Class of torpedoes

Torpedo Originally, the term “torpedo” was used mainly for weapons which now would be called mines, but since the beginning of the 20th century, torpedo has been used only for an underwater self-propelled missile.

The design features of these weapons vary in intricacy from the simple depth charge to the complex dual purpose heavy weight torpedo. Literature is generally silent on the design criterion/aspects and a student of weapon technology has to perforce interpret these with the help of the technical data available about the weapon.

Some aspect on which propulsion, guidance and lethality of a modern torpedo are designed, are outlined below: Propulsion: The requirement of high speed and medium (sea water) constraints, problems of back pressure, and pros and cons of closed systems are the challenges.

Torpedo body and water resistance results in penalties on achieving high speeds. Electric torpedoes are again coming into focus, (as they are much more silent) with vastly improved battery technologies in the market.

Sea water activated batteries are providing required power packages for high speeds.

Electric motors and pump jets are being used instead of propellers and turbines.

Guidance: The constraints are the vagaries of the medium towards acoustic propagation and velocity profiles of the sea, shadow zones, losses and background noise; target strength of ships and submarines and their radiated noise levels; design aspects of homing head and detection threshold and pros and cons of homing, wake and wire guidance systems.

The fact remains that for the elusive underwater lethal threat, the submarine, the torpedo, is the most potent weapon in the inventory of the navies

A modern torpedo can be divided into two classes namely lightweight and heavyweight, and into two types namely, wireguided, and the autonomous fire and forget types. They can also be launched from a variety of platforms like ships, submarines, rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft.

By and large heavy weight torpedoes (HWT) are primarily weapons of choice against ships by submarines, and light weight torpedoes (LWT) are anti-­ submarine weapons launched from both ships and aerial platforms. However, some navies like the Russian, PLAN and Indian Navy carry HWTs on ships for deployment against submarines.

US LWT One of the LWTs which is claimed to be the most tested torpedo in the world is the US Mk 54 torpedo (Raytheon) and deserves a mention as it also traces its lineage from other Raytheon torpedoes like the MK 46, Mk 50, Mk 48 and ADCAP. It has proved itself against submarine targets in various exhaustive tests in the US. It will replace Mk 46 and MK 50 torpedoes by 2014.

The Mk 54 torpedo is 271 cm to 287 cm, weighs between 276 kg and 293 kg and has a diameter of 32 cm. As per Raytheon, Mk 54 Sonar has evolved from Mk 50 and can generate up to 62 independent beams that can be steered in both the horizontal and vertical planes. A fully digital programmable beam provides the flexibility to select and steer narrow beams for optimum coverage according to the engagement scenario. The transmitter can generate complex signals including frequency-modulated and puretone waveforms. A programmable d ­ ual-band

Torpedos receiver generates multiple receive beams to enable extensive volume coverage. The sonar nose construction provides low array self-noise; the acoustic array and digital beam former provide superior performance in littoral areas; and the transmitter flexibility and dual-band receiver provide extensive and effective volume coverage. The guidance and control synergises established MK 48 and MK 50 torpedo technologies with the latest COTS processing power (14 gigaflops) in an expandable open architecture.

This processing power, coupled with the MK 48 ADCAP and MK 50 detection, editing and tracking algorithms, provides an effective weapon in both littoral and open-ocean waters. The warhead comprises of the MK 103 Mod 1 Warhead and the MK 20 Mod 0 Exploder. The Warhead system has been deployed on US Navy ships, aircraft and helicopters for over two decades with no safety incidents. The propulsion provides a reliable, variable-speed weapon with full performance over the depth and speed ranges of interest. It owes its origins to Mk 46, Mk48 ADCAP and Mk 50 torpedoes.

The warhead fully meets any STANAG safety requirement.

The exercise section, interchangeable with the warhead section, allows live exercise firings. Composed of a pneumatic recovery system based on inflatable collar technology, it incorporates underwater tracking capability and solid-state memories data acquisition system. The MU 90 operates at speeds between 29 kts to >50 kts and has a range between 11,000 m and 23,000 m.

Asian LWTs South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has spearheaded the development of the Cheong Sangeo (Blue Shark) torpedo, on the lines of the Mk 46 Mod 5, indigenously, through the Naval Center and LG Innotek.

The Japanese torpedo GRX-4 (Type 73)

is a lightweight anti-submarine weapon, for tracking and attacking the high-speed nuclear submarines. This torpedo has higher speed, better operating depth and target detection capabilities than other Japanese torpedoes.

The Chinese YU-7/ET-52 torpedo is probably a reverse engineered A 244-S Mod 2 version with some technologies from the US Mk 46 Mod.2. 507 Institute and 705th Institute have undertaken the reverse engineering and development.

India’s National Science and Technology Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, has developed TAL, a lightweight torpedo, which is 2.75 metres in length and has a weight of 220 kg. It is produced and assembled by the Bharat Dynamics Limited. TAL is an anti-submarine torpedo which can be launched from both surface ships and heli-

copters. It can attack and cripple submarines at speeds of up to 33 knots and up to a depth of 540 metres. It uses sea water activated batteries and can travel up to a maximum distance of seven km; it has an explosive weight of 50 kg. The Indian Navy has placed an order for 25 TALs. The fact remains that for the elusive underwater lethal threat, the submarine, the torpedo is the most potent weapon in the inventory of the navies. The HWTs on ships to attack enemy submarines still suffer from the ship—submarine detection range disadvantage vis-à-vis the submarine—ship detection and anti-ship torpedo launch capability. The helicopter/aircraft launched LWTs coupled with advanced detection and tracking systems provide a very safe and secure way of dealing with hostile submarine threats. SP

European LWT The European torpedo of interest is the MU90/IMPACT (A 244/S Mod 3) advanced lightweight torpedo produced by Eurotorp and jointly developed by Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (Italy, a Finmeccanica company), DCNS International and Thales (France). As per the manufacturers, The MU90 is a NATO-standard-calibre (323,7mm) fire-and-forget LWT of 304 kg and 285 cm length, designed to counter any type of nuclear or conventional submarine, acoustically coated, fast-evasive, deploying active or passive anti-torpedo effectors.

The torpedo can be deployed from surface vessels, fixed/rotary wing aircraft or missile. Pre-arrangements to cope with submarine-launched anti-aircraft threats have been incorporated in the weapon as well as hard-kill (anti-torpedo torpedo), continental shelf mine and submarine launching capability. It is currently in mass production and it has entered into service with the French, Italian, German, Danish and Polish navies and accepted by the Australian Navy.

It is powered by an aluminium-silver oxide sea water battery, using dissolved sodiumdioxide powder as electrolyte and incorporating an advanced closed-loop electrolyte re-circulation system, the torpedo is propelled by an electronically controlled highRPM brushless motor driving a skewed multi-blades pump-jet propulsor allowing a linearly variable torpedo speed. The MU90 operates without any degradation in water depths in excess of 1000 m and as shallow as 25 m and retaining navigation capability up to 3 m.The advanced acoustic seeker features 47 transmission and 33 reception preformed beams. Its multi-frequency, parallel processing and simultaneous acoustic modes operation, allow multi-target tracking capability, high engagement distance, high performance in very shallow water providing the weapon with high immunity to the most advanced anti-torpedo countermeasures. The control and guidance electronic accommodates the operational and tactical software including the signal processing, the data processing and the torpedo guidance laws. The torpedo guidance is achieved through an inertial system based on ‘strap-down’ technology.

The very low radiated noise, achieved through the use of the modern pump-jet technologies combined to an extended selection of torpedo preset parameters, allow a silent approach to the target, minimising the alert range of the submarine detection systems and resulting in highkilling probability. The insensitive munitions, direct energy charge warhead is proven to kill double hull submarines. It is ignited through an impact type exploder incorporating independent safety devices.

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C Su ob nm f ear rei nnec e r e p o r t Photographs: SP Guide Pubns

Power-packed deliberations: Manish Tewari, MP and Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, delivering his speech at the conference (Left); Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament, Industrialist & Member, Consultative Committee, MoD addressing the audience (Right)

Streamline

DPP

A day-long conference on the Defence Procurement Procedure organised by SP Guide Publications in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on May 2 emphasised on the need to streamline our defence procurement system to get the best equipment for our soldiers and reap maximum benefit in the future n Sucheta Das Mohapatra

S

www.spsnavalforces.net

ince its introduction in 2002 and followed by several amendments till date, the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) of India has been a subject of deliberation amongst defence experts, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), public and private sector enterprises, etc. And despite being a progressive version, DPP 2011, has been a subject of much debate, with demands for streamlining the procurement procedure coming from all quarters. Keeping this in view, SP Guide Publications in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) organised a workshop on DPP at Hotel Oberoi in New Delhi, on May 2.

The day-long conference witnessed industrialists, diplomats, bureaucrats, policy makers, defence personnel, politicians, etc pondering and talking about “Streamlin-

ing the Defence Procurement System”. The conference began with Lt General (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma, Distinguished Fellow, ORF, emphasising on the need for transparency in the defence procurement system.

Giving his welcome remarks, Sunjoy Joshi, Director, ORF, questioned, “Should DPP remain aloof from strategic parameters?” “Our domestic policies today will define the country’s military environment in the future.”

Former Secretary, Defence Production and Chairman Task Force on Defence Modernisation and Self-Reliance, Ravindra Gupta gave out details of the mandate of the Task Force set up by the National Security Council to focus on issues pertaining to defence modernisation as well as selfreliance. He said the focus is on modernisation and self-reliance, and how to leverage from both the public and private sector.

He, however, held that there is diffidence at all levels of government to move smoothly

Conference Highlights zz A.K. Chopra, Financial Advisor (Defence Services) indicated on the internal

problems which needs to be sorted out within the system zz Jayant Patil, Executive Vice President and Member of the Board of Heavy

Engineering, L&T articulated the grave concerns of private sector and illustrated some of the key issues zz No government policies in place in the context of Offsets - Major General (Retd) Mrinal Suman strongly argued zz Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament & Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence indicated on government’s awareness. However synergies need to be worked upon, he said zz Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament, Industrialist & Member, Consultative Committee, MoD said our forces must receive the latest and the greatest equipment

and the self-reliance index has only moved slightly. “We have indulged in purchase and not acquisition. The acquiring capability has not been acquired,” he said and added that unfortunately the political will for defence technology is lacking and the Offset clause

has so far not been exploited well.

A.K. Chopra, Financial Advisor (Defence Services), Ministry of Defence, admitted that there are conflicting interests and a balance has to be struck. He said that deficiencies exist both in the services

(Top: L-R) A.K. Chopra, Financial Advisor (Defence Services), Ministry of Defence; Dr Vivek Lal, President and CEO, Reliance New Ventures; Jayant Patil, Executive Vice President and Member of the Board of Heavy Engineering, L&T; (Above: L-R) Amit Cowshish, Financial Advisor (Acquisition) and Additional Secretary, Department of Defence Finance, Ministry of Defence; Ravindra Pal Singh, Defence Analyst and former Project Leader on Arms Procurement, SIPRI; Major General (Retd) Mrinal Suman, former Technical Manager (Land Systems) and Consultant, CII

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C o n f e rCeo na csetrG eu pa or rd t

(Top: L-R) Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Dy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (DOT) with Jayant Baranwal; Manish Tewari with Jayant Baranwal; Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch, Jayant Baranwal and Subimal Bhattacharjee, Country Head, General Dynamics; Roger Rose, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin India with Jayant Baranwal; (Above: L-R) Sunil Bhatia, WASS Finmeccanica, Col Anil Joshi, Manager, Land Systems Finmeccanica and Jayant Baranwal; M.K. Mishra, HAL Deputy General Manager and Wg Cdr B.S. Singh Deo, Managing Director, Bell Helicopter India; Mats Wigselius, Col (Navy) Defence Attaché, Swedish Armed Forces and Dean McCumiskey, MD & CEO of BAE Systems India; Rishi Malhotra, General Manager India, Bell Helicopter and Todd Hattaway, Regional Sales Director, Hawker Beechcraft.

and the bureaucracy. He spoke about the roadblocks and the need for substantial delegation of power. Chopra emphasised on the need for collegial decision-making but added that there are still issues where agencies have to act on their own.

Session I The first session of the conference was on “Evaluating Defence Procurement Procedure”, which was chaired by Vinod Dhall, former Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and former Chairman, Competition Commission. He said that though the procurement system has evolved over the years, no statistical record of procurement is available. He emphasised on the need for a dedicated department within the Ministry and a public procurement portal. He spoke on the silent reforms taking place in the public procurement domain and the Public Procurement Bill which has been approved by the Cabinet and would soon be introduced in the Parliament.

Speaking on “Broader Context of Arms Procurement Reforms”, Ravindra Pal Singh, Defence Analyst and former Project Leader on Arms Procurement, SIPRI, said that there is no consistency in the national security policy-making in India. He said the procurement process is not moving fast enough in India as compared to other democracies.

Jayant Patil, Executive Vice President and Member of the Board of Heavy Engineering, Larsen & Toubro, expressed dissatisfaction at no commensurate increase in offset stipulation. “Taxation of offset is a big issue,” he said and added that the cost differentiation in a product manufactured in India and elsewhere globally is 35 per cent. Patil said that at 26 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI), no genuine technology would come to India.

Addressing the same session, Dr Vivek Lal President and CEO, Reliance New Ventures, gave out the “Private Sector Perspective on DPP” and said that DPP involves both aspects—procurement and industrialisation.

“Offset is a catalyst across the globe and the really successful ones have been discontinued after it met its objectives. There is a cost to offsets and hence it is important to be clear as to what we want to achieve.”

Amit Cowshish, Financial Advisor (Acquisition) and Additional Secretary, Department of Defence Finance, Ministry of Defence, spoke on “DPP: Addressing Key Areas and Looking Ahead”. He emphasised on the need to create a permanent professional body to

choose vendors. On the “Buy and Make” category in the DPP, he questioned why guidelines should be laid for the private sector and why cannot it to be left to the OEM. Cowshish informed that the DPP is now being reviewed by the government in light of the issues raised by the industry players and indicated that the new DPP would look at broadening the scope of offsets and bringing transfer of technology under its ambit.

Session II The post-lunch session began with a special address by Manish Tewari, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, who spoke vividly on different aspects of defence procurement. Tewari’s words demonstrated government’s interest in bringing constructive changes in the defence procurement process.

The second session was on “Defence Procurement—Core Concerns” which was chaired by Vinod K. Mishra, Former Secretary, Department of Defence Finance and Distinguished Fellow, IDSA. Mishra expressed dissatisfaction at the lengthy evaluation timeframes in India.

Major General Mrinal Suman, former Technical Manager (Land Systems) and Consultant, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), spoke on “Defence Offset”. He said that the policy has no spelt out objective or aim and that is its ‘weakness’. On the future trends of offset, he said that offset is here to stay. “It is an addiction and difficult to wean away. The reforms are likely to continue. No national offset policy is in the offing.”

“The level of FDI has nothing to do with the level of transfer of technology (ToT),” emphasised G. Balachandran, Visiting Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, while speaking on “Translating ToT Into Real Dividends”. “Research and development (R&D) is an essential element in technology transfer. Indian R&D is very narrow and unless the R&D increases, ToT has no value,” he held.

On being questioned by Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP Guide Publications, about the concerns of OEMs on technology transfer at low cost, Suman said that it is indeed a concern for the OEMs. “In India, we have not permitted trade in offset. While the Defence Offset Facilitation Agency (DOFA) is understaffed, the Acquisition Wing is overloaded with work. The country must have a single window to listen and thereafter make changes.”

Manish Tewari Speaks...

This particular workshop is happening at a very opportune moment of time when across the country for reasons other than the national debate, there has been a significant amount of focus on the question of defence preparedness and other allied/related issues. It is also coming right after the Standing Committee on Defence had the opportunity to scrutinise the demands for grants of the Ministry of Defence and report back to the Parliament.

What I have been given to understand is that since this morning there have been deliberations and an attempt to see how as to how we can fix the whole procurement system. That fundamentally assumes that the procurement system as it stands today is perhaps broken. I do not subscribe to that point of view and the reason why I say is because in the Standing Committee on Defence we heard perspectives from the services, perspectives from the government and perspective of outside experts also, which led us to conclude and that part of it gets reflected in the report also, that there are institutional issues which possibly require a paradigm shift in the manner that we look at the question of equipping ourselves towards preparedness.

The 26 per cent FDI has also not brought in the players from the international spectrum primarily because of copyright and other issues which essentially as I have heard is their perspective which is holding them back.

It’s my personal view that the entire sector possibly needs to be classified into a couple of lists, those areas that are non-critical, possibly we can invite 100 per cent foreign investment should be allowed; in other areas which are possibly not in the noncritical areas where we can look at 49-50 per cent and those areas that are extremely crucial to our national security where we do not want that there should not be any outside participation, we shall keep it absolutely closed and say that these are areas that are exclusively reserved for not even the Indian private sector but for the entire public sector towards defence preparedness.

There is a feeling that it would require a considerable amount of political conviction to be able to usher in the sort of reforms in this sector. SP

The session ended with the assertion that offset has a cost element to it and that gaps in capability outlays have become far more significant.

The second session was followed by a valedictory address by Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament and Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Defence.

He said that it is necessary to equip our forces with the latest and the greatest equipment. He said that the use of equipment is also important other than acquisition. “Are we training our people on how to use the equipment?” he questioned and added that rather than wasting time, why not give our soldiers the latest equipment.

“If we can make it indigenously it’s fine, or else we should acquire it. We should take the delays out and get the best equipment for our soldiers.” Jindal admired SP Guide Publications for organising the workshop

and expressed his liking for the informative magazines published by SP’s.

The day ended with vote of thanks by Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP Guide Publications. He said that it is necessary that our defence procurement system be streamlined so that our armed forces do not remain in a state of flux; dealings remain transparent and clearer for overseas and domestic suppliers. “Our men in uniform working 24x7, receive the best solutions to be equipped with and are thereby capable to handle any kind of challenges coming from any quarters; offsets and alike elements of DPP should work as an enabler and not a disabler.” He reiterated that decisions need to be taken on time and added that “we need not always have to reinvent the wheel, which may take longer than acquiring it. We must optimise our key resources”. SP

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Piracy

When Will

Somali Piracy End? Somali pirate groups have effectively dodged naval patrols for over a decade and it is not impossible to assume that they could well continue to do so into the 22nd century Photograph: US Navy

n Commander Shishir Upadhyaya

www.spsnavalforces.net

M

aritime piracy in the 21st century shows no signs of abating even after several years of unprecedented multinational naval patrolling and intensive efforts by the global community. Last year, over 50 ships were hijacked globally. More than half were hijacked by Somali pirates and held for ransom. Though the number of successful hijackings by Somali pirates has reduced for the first time in years; from 49 in 2010 to 26 in 2011, a significant drop in numbers is attributed mainly to increased employment of private security by merchant ships and adoption of the ‘best management practices’ by the shipping industry, the total ransom collected by Somali pirates has increased substantially. In 2010, the highest ransom ever paid was about $10 million for the South Korean tanker Samho Dream. This was considered an aberration since most ransom demands were of the order of $4-5 million.

However, since 2011, this has changed significantly. In 2011, the Greek VLCC Irene fetched the Somali pirates $13.5 million in ransom while many others paid ransoms of the order of $10 million. It is estimated that while in 2010 about $80 million was received by Somali pirates as ransom, in 2011, this figure almost doubled to about $150 million. This is a very dangerous trend and is likely to lead to greater violence against the crew when their companies are unable to meet the demands of desperate Somali pirates. The case of the MV Suez in 2010, wherein the owners refused to pay the steep ransom demanded by the Somali pirates, and the crew (mostly Indian) were held in custody and tortured by the pirates, is a pointer to what could happen.

Over the years, the Somali piracy model has evolved in many ways. It originally started off as attempts by Somali fishermen to keep off foreign transgressions in their waters. In the absence of an effective government, since the removal from power of the authoritarian regime of Said Barre in January 1991, a few self-styled armed protection groups such as the Somali National Volunteer Coast Guard and the Puntland Coast Guard took it upon themselves to chase out foreign fishing trawlers from the region. Soon, they moved on to attacking private yachts transiting the Somali EEZ and then to hijacking merchant ships. The Somali pirates made global headlines for the first time when on November 5, 2005, they attempted to hijack the US cruise liner Seabourn Spirit approximately 75 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. This unsuccessful attack triggered a wave of piracy attacks along the Somali coast. Subsequently, Somali pirates made headlines in India when in February 2006, they hijacked an Indian dhow named Bhakti Sagar (registered in Porbandar) while on passage to Kisamayu. At least 25 Indian crew members were held hostage till a large undisclosed amount was paid as ransom by the owners.

In 2006, there were 22 incidents of attacks on ships by Somali pirates. The numbers have since increased rapidly;

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Suspected pirates keep their hands in the air as directed by the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf

more than doubling with each passing year; from 51 in 2007 to 111 in 2008, 217 in 2009 and 2010, and 231 in 2011. Just as the number of attacks has increased over the years, so have the tactics employed by the pirates improved significantly.

Somali pirates currently function in large organised groups operating out of the well-equipped coastal bases. Their senior leadership includes retired Somali naval officers some of whom have been trained in erstwhile USSR. The pirate groups now routinely use hijacked vessels for launching attacks at far off distances. These groups are estimated to have a well developed intelligence system that provides information about movement of ships in the region and allows for selective targeting. The modus operandi of the pirates is to loiter near the busy sea lanes of the region on a hijacked medium-sized vessels or mother ship for days, looking out for a suitable merchant ship to target and then attack it with small but fast moving skiffs or boats at close ranges.

The pirates, equipped with AK-47s and rocket launchers fire indiscriminately at the ships to force them to stop. Once on board, the pirates quickly take charge of the crew and its master, and divert the ship to Somali waters.

In mid-2009, with the arrival of the Second Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), the number of warships on antipiracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden had reached a record number of about 20-25 ships on patrol. It was expected that piracy would soon be brought under control. However, much to the contrary, in 2009, the number of piracy attacks stood at 217, compared to 111 in 2008. Piracy had more than doubled during the period that a record number of warships were on patrol. Till this day, almost all the G-20 countries are represented in the region including the Multinational Task Force 151, European Union Naval Force, NATO and several other naval ships on independent patrol. However, this has not deterred the Somali pirates who continue to attack ships with impunity.

In 2010, under criticism from the shipping industry for not using adequate force, several navies stepped up pressure on the

pirates by launching special operations to rescue captured crew and ships, and apprehend the pirates. However, this led to a few severe reprisals by the pirate groups. Notable being the incident of SV Quest in which four Americans were killed in cold blood following the recapture of the American ship Maersk Albama by the US marines who had killed three Somali pirates onboard the ship. Such reprisals have discouraged most navies from taking aggressive actions and merchant ships have now found it more useful to hire private security and employ their own self-defence measures. After much reluctance even International Maritime Bureau and International Maritime Organisation now advise ships to employ private security. However, piracy continues unabated and virtually unchallenged. One wonders where all this will lead to and will the navies of the world ever be successful in curbing piracy or will the international community successfully rehabilitate Somalia and wean its people away from crime?

In order to understand the complexities in curbing piracy, it is pertinent to recall the lessons from history. Maritime piracy dates to as far back when ships first sailed into the high seas. However, in the modern era, the period that lasted through the early 16th century and the late 17th century is known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

This was a period when loot and plunder of ships at sea was widespread, lucrative and threatening. The Barbary Corsairs of North Africa gained infamy as the worst pirates threatening western shipping in the Mediterranean with savage violence. During this

Over the years, the Somali piracy model has evolved in many ways. It originally started off as attempts by Somali fishermen to keep off foreign transgressions in their waters.

era, the Indian Ocean emerged as a notorious pirate’s haunt in the late 17th century.

It took the European and the American naval forces over 200 years to effectively eradicate piracy from the region. In South East Asia, the Golden Age of piracy from the early 16th century to late 17th century was marked by the advent of the Malay pirates viz the Buginese pirates of South Sulawesi, the Orang Laut pirates of Riau Island and the Sea Dayak pirates operating from Borneo Island. Piracy in the South East Asian region continued into the 19th century, spurred by the rapid increase in opium and spice trade between India and China even after it had declined elsewhere in the west.

The British forces made several unsuccessful attempts to curb piracy in the straits.

However, they were constrained by lack of adequate warships. Eventually, in 1830, the British and Dutch naval forces joined hands at combating pirates, dividing the straits along the Anglo-Dutch line. By 1870, piracy in the Indian Ocean had greatly declined.

Several Western scholars—most recently Robert Kaplan in his book Monsoon—have cited the instances of piratical attacks faced by Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta off the west coast of India in the 13th and 14th centuries, as evidence of piracy originating from India. However, it is opined that these attacks were actually attempts by the local fishermen community to keep off the transgressions by foreign traders or adventurers and hence not typically piratical attacks. Nevertheless, a useful analogy can be drawn between the Somali pirates of the 21st century and what happened along the west coast of India in the early 16th century. After the arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498, conflict soon broke out between the Zamorin of Calicut and the Portuguese.

For the next 90 years, the Malabar naval force comprised of small vessels or Gallivats fought off the vastly superior Portuguese Navy, considered to be the finest of its time. The simple Malabar fishermen folk under the able leadership of intrepid Sea Captains or Marakkars successfully kept off European transgression into India from the west coast for almost a century. Kunjali Marakkar emerged as the most successful and renowned leader. The tactics adopted by the Marakkars was to swarm the larger Portuguese ships, attack them with four to six pounder guns and eventually take over the ship with its crew in hand for combat.

The lessons of history bring out clearly that piracy is not easy to eradicate. The narrative of the intrepid Malabar fishermen community is not very different from the Somali fishermen who took it upon themselves to fight off foreign transgressions, which shows us how a determined band of mariners could keep off a much superior naval force for almost a century. The advantages of speed and steel hulled ships enjoyed by modern merchant ships over the pirates of the 19th century has now been effectively neutralised. If anything, the proliferation of technology has only made the job of pirates a lot easier. Somali pirate groups have effectively dodged naval patrols for over a decade and it is not impossible to assume that they could well continue to do so into the 22nd century. SP

I NS C h a k r a 

Incarnate Chakra Joins

Indian Navy

With the extremely robust and reliable conventional Sindhughosh and Shishumar class submarines still in its arsenal, the Indian Navy re-enters the era of nuclear submarine, the true submarines. The name Chakra is evocative of its relevance as the ultimate weapon coveted by any nation.

Photographs: Indian Navy

n Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay

I

NS Chakra, a nuclear powered attack submarine of the Akula class was inducted formally into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister A.K. Antony at the Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam, on April 4, 2012, in the presence of Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of the Naval Staff and Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-inChief, Eastern Naval Command. By reviving the capability to operate the technically complex nuclear submarine through this induction, India has joined an elite league of six nations that boasts of this distinction. The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Alexander M. Kadakin, Russian Ambassador to India, high ranking officials from the Navy, Department of Atomic Energy and the Russian Federation.

The Indian Navy commenced operating submarines in 1967, and in a short span of 20 years, graduated to operating nuclear submarines, when it leased a Soviet Charlie class submarine, named Chakra, between 1988 and 1991. In true naval tradition, the legacy continues with the new Chakra, in a much more modern and sophisticated avatar. Commissioned on January 23, 2012, at Vladivostok, Russia, INS Chakra touched the Indian shores as a submariners’ dream come true, with deadly firepower, tremendous sustained speeds and practically unlimited submerged endurance. The nuclear-powered attack submarine, INS Chakra with lethal ‘hunter-killer’, SSN and intelligence gathering capabilities, has been inducted on a 10-year lease from Russia at an approximate cost of $1 billion (`5,500 crore). She would also provide effective protection to Indian Navy’s fleet at sea. The Navy will also use Chakra to train its men in the intricate art of operating the nuclear submarines which was lost with the retirement of all of the trained crew of former de-leased Chakra.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Nirmal Verma said that induction of INS Chakra is a major step towards a strong and versatile Navy, as mandated by the regional maritime security environment, in keeping with the balanced growth of our Navy in all three dimensions, and capability augmentation through acquisition of force multipliers.

He expressed confidence that INS Chakra would increase our Navy’s operational flexibility and help maintain a credible presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), contributing towards effective blue water operations by the Indian Navy. He added that the 100metre INS Chakra has propelled India into a select group of countries like the US, Russia, France, the UK and China, to operate nuclear-powered submarine.

Citing this as a momentous arrival that reflects high level of cooperation and strategic partnership between India and Russia, Antony said that over the years, the IOR has assumed great strategic significance, as it is home to a large population and some of the most dynamic and fast growing economies, with India as the geostrategic hub. He

INS Chakra - Vital Statistics Speed

: Surface: 11.6 knots, Underwater: 30 knots Maximum diving depth : 600 m Endurance : 100 days Displacement : Surface: 8,140 t, Submerged: 12,770 t Crew : 73 (31 officers) Reactor : OK 650B (190 mw) : 43,000 hp Turbine

Propulsions Unit  Nuclear, OK 650B (190 mw) thermal neutron reactor  Two auxiliary 410 hp electric motors  Two 750 hp diesel generators Armament Torpedo tubes

: 4 x 533mm; 4 x 650mm;

28 missiles, torpedoes or mines (Top left) Defence Minister A.K. Antony addressing the audience; (Top right) CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma onboard INS Chakra; (Above) INS Chakra and its crew

emphasised that for peace and stability in the region, and thereby the world at large, it is imperative that the Indian Navy maintains a strong, stabilising and credible presence that while not being directed against any nation, will act as a stabilising force and protect our strategic interests. He reiterated that INS Chakra, or other warships, is not aimed at any country. Towards this end, he said that the induction of INS Chakra is a step in the right direction, as it would no doubt play a major role in reshaping the maritime operations of the Navy in the years to come and ensure security, sovereignty and economic prosperity of the country. He spoke of how the induction of INS Chakra symbolises both the success of the Russian submarine building capability and of the Indian Navy’s competence in exploitation of technologically complex platforms.

He extolled the submarine as a ‘shining example’ of the deep and abiding strategic partnership between India and Russia.

He also congratulated the Indian Navy for successfully inducting INS Chakra and also extended his heartiest congratulations to the Commanding Officer of INS Chakra and the crew for their painstaking efforts during the challenging phases of training, acceptance and passage to India. India’s defence forces in general and the Navy in particular, have had a long association with Russia. “The lease of INS Chakra is a true reflection of the remarkably strong and close ties between our countries. I am confident that INS Chakra will symbolise both the success of the Russian submarine building capa-

bility and the Indian Navy’s competence in exploitation of technologically complex platforms. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Russian Navy, Russian crew, personnel of Amur Shipyard and Vostok Shipyard. I also thank JSC Rosoboronexport for making this lease possible. Their support and cooperation has made it possible to successfully commission INS Chakra into the Indian Navy. I am sure that following in the true spirit of the long-standing strategic friendship between our two great nations, the Russian Federation would extend the requisite technical support to INS Chakra during its operations in India.”

Belonging to the attack or SSN genre of submarines, INS Chakra is commanded

by Captain P. Ashokan, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and the Naval War College.

Captain Ashokan has command experience of two Kilo class submarines besides operational experience of over 25 years. He confidently declared, “We can outrun and overcome any adversary in our neighbourhood.”

With a displacement of over 12,000 tonnes, INS Chakra, powered by a 190 mw reactor has a maximum submerged speed of over 30 knots (55 kmph) and operating depths of over 500 m. The submarine is manned by 80 crew members. Chakra is equipped with an array of tactical missiles, cutting edge fire control systems, sonars, contemporary optronic periscopes, communication and surveillance systems that give her a phenomenal operational flexibility and lethal potency. It comes with the capability

to deploy a potent weapon delivery platform, armed as it is with 300 km Klub-S land attack cruise missiles and advanced torpedoes, at a place of its choosing at long distances with lot of stealth. INS Chakra, however, does not give India its long awaited third leg of the nuclear triad, as the submarine is not armed with strategic missile systems due to international treaties. For its third leg of the triad, India would have to wait for its own indigenous submarine INS Arihant which will carry nuclear-tipped K-15 missiles and is expected to be commissioned some times during 2013. In the interim, induction of Chakra heralds the vital training and staging grounds for the submariners to train and learn the complex art of operating nuclear powered submarines and to evolve tactical and strategic levels of operational doctrines in conformance with the national security interests. Akula class submarine brings along with it latest technologies in nuclear submarine design and construction which is likely to be utilised in substantive terms for desired improvements and upgrades for the Arihant class follow-on programme.

With the extremely robust and reliable conventional Sindhughosh and Shishumar class submarines still in its arsenal, the Indian Navy re-enters the era of nuclear submarine, the true submarines. The name Chakra is evocative of its relevance as the ultimate weapon coveted by any nation. INS Chakra, SSN will be based at Visakhapatnam and operate under the operational and administrative control of Flag Officer Commandingin-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. SP

3/2012

11

Diplomacy

Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation

The Indian Ocean has developed into a new area of India-China conflict. As soon as India announced that it will go ahead with its decision to carry out oil exploration in South China Sea jointly with Vietnam; China stated that it would expand its exploration of 10,000 sq km of seabed in southwest Indian Ocean as part of their 2011-15 oceanic development policy.

Photograph: MEA

n Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand

T

he Indian Ocean is the world’s third largest ocean covering approximately 20 per cent of the water on the earth’s surface and is named after the geographic location of India. It has an area of 7,35,56,000 square km (2,83,50,000 sq miles), including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Many small islands are located on the rim which also has island nations like Madagascar (the world’s fourth largest island), Reunion Island, Comoros, Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. The world’s earliest civilisations in Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt and the Indian subcontinent (beginning with the Indus Valley civilisation) developed around the Indian Ocean. Civilisations also arose in Persia and later in South East Asia. Important trade routes for silk and spice were blocked by the Ottoman Empire with the fall of the Byzantine Empire. This resulted in exploring alternative routes and a new sea route around Africa was discovered.

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Economic potential The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the America. It helps in meeting the energy needs of many countries by transporting petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. The Indian Ocean is a great source of oil, wealth and heavy minerals. It is estimated that 40 per cent of the world’s offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Sand on the beach is rich with heavy minerals and is exploited by countries like India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It carries half of the world’s container ships, one-third of the bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments. The Indian Ocean Rim countries have a combined population close to two billion, thus making it a massive market. The region is rich in precious minerals and metals, and abundant marine resources.

It has plenty of agricultural output and human resources which are technologically developed. Many countries of the region like China and India are becoming globally competitive. There are a number of sub-regions like Southern and Eastern Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea; South Asia, South East Asia, and Australasia. It also includes a number of regional organisations, such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Southern African Devel-

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opment Community (SADEC). For many centuries, the countries and the people in the Indian Ocean region have been informally integrated in trade. The decolonisation of the region ended British control but superpower rivalry in the region escalated due to its strategic importance. However, the leaders of the region decided that to overcome superpower rivalry it was prudent to go back to the historical past and develop a shared identity by establishing an ocean-centric regional cooperative group which would serve as a bridgehead between Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Due to the lucrative trade, piracy has raised its ugly head in the Indian Ocean region and especially off the Somali coast which has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War.

als Resources Research and Development Association, it shook India’s planners as they had not done any exploration in spite of receiving exploratory rights by the ISA for a large number of blocks. As a result, some of these blocks had to be surrendered but India still retains some blocks. To counter China’s swift moves into the Indian Ocean, India has released its report on survey of seabeds by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) which indicated the presence of heavy deposits of ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, monazite and garnet off the east coast, as well as off Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The GSI has also conducted reconnaissance surveys to identify potential areas for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion off Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

India vs China

During his visit to India in 1995, President Nelson Mandela stated that “the natural urge of the facts of history and geography… should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic cooperation and other peaceful endeavours.

Recent changes in the international system demand that the countries of the Indian Ocean shall become a single platform. “Soon after in March 1995, the Mauritius Government convened a meeting to discuss the concept of improving the economic cooperation among countries of the Indian Ocean Rim. Representatives from Australia, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Oman, Singapore and South Africa attended the meeting. These countries were later on referred to as the “core group states” or M-7. As a result of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which it was stated that they had agreed on “principles of open regionalism and inclusivity of membership, with the objectives of trade liberalisation and promoting trade cooperation. The activities

The Indian Ocean has developed into a new area of India-China conflict. As soon as India announced that it will go ahead with its decision to carry out oil exploration in South China Sea jointly with Vietnam; China stated that it would expand its exploration of 10,000 sq km of seabed in southwest Indian Ocean as part of their 2011-15 oceanic development policy. Chinese state-run media has quoted China’s head of oceanic development Liu Cigui as saying, “We will expand the depths and scope of oceanic research and improve our understanding of the ocean, with special focus on the polar regions and deep sea environments.”

India’s Naval Hydrography Department has done extensive work, mapping the bottom of the Indian Ocean, which would help India’s mariners and defence and strategic planners. When the International Seabed Authority (ISA) allowed exploration of polymetallic sulphides by China Ocean Miner-

The beginning of the Rim Association

would focus on trade facilitation, promotion and liberalisation, investment promotion and economic cooperation”.

A tripartite working group, consisting of representatives from the government, academic and private sector, met in Mauritius in August 1995 and decided to create a track two process which would be complementary to an inter-governmental movement. A charter was finalised in September 1996 for the creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) and expanded the membership to include Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique which was called the M-14.The IORARC was formally launched at the first ministerial meeting in Mauritius on March 6 and 7, 1997; adopted the IOR-ARC Charter and determined a number of administrative and procedural matters. The second biennial Council of Ministers meeting was held in Maputo, Mozambique in March 1999 in which the Ministers agreed to a realistic, result-oriented trade and investment agenda based on trade facilitation, trade liberalisation, and economic and technical cooperation. To further streamline the process, a Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) was established. Bangladesh, Iran, Seychelles, Thailand and the UAE were invited to join the association. It was also decided that Egypt and Japan would be invited to participate as dialogue partners.

An extraordinary meeting of the IORARC Ministerial Council took place in Muscat, Oman, in January 2000, during which the new members and the dialogue partners were formally welcomed. WGTI also met for the first time. During the meeting, the Ministers adopted a trade and investment plan of action, which included agreement to compile compendia on customs regimes, quarantine and food inspection and investment regimes, to be completed before the next ministerial level meeting at Oman in April 2001. The meeting also approved applications for dialogue partner status from China and the UK. Currently, it has 18 members to include Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Seychelles, which left the organisation in 2003, re-joined on November 15 to become the 19th member of IOR-ARC. The association also has five dialogue partners—Egypt, Japan, China, Britain and France—and two observers—Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation and Indian Ocean Research Group.

Objectives The objectives of IOR-ARC are as follows: zz To promote sustainable growth and

balanced development of the region and member states. zz To focus on those areas of economic cooperation which provide maximum opportunities for development, shared interest and mutual benefits. zz To promote liberalisation, remove impediments and lower barriers towards a freer and enhanced flow of goods, services, investment and technology within the Indian Ocean Rim.

Organisation of IOR-ARC The Council of Ministers (foreign) (COM) is the highest authority of the association which meets once every two years (or more often as mutually decided). Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) meets as often as mutually decided (but at least once a year).

It reviews the implementation of the decisions taken by the COM. IOR-ARC activities include several topical projects and work programmes conducted by member countries with shared interests, all of which are under the umbrella of three separate working groups. These are the Working Group

Diplomacy on Trade and Investment, the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum, and the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group. The working groups have business and academic representatives to ensure that different points of view and interests are fully reflected in IOR-ARC’s work programme. The IOR-ARC Coordinating Secretariat coordinates and monitors the implementation of policy decisions and work programmes, as decided.

Eleventh Meeting of IOR-ARC The eleventh meeting was held at Bangalore on November 15, 2011. India assumed chairmanship of the 15-year-old association for the first time. India’s Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna took charge and would be chairing the association for the next two years. In his opening statement upon conclusion of the Council of Ministers meeting, he asserted that Indian Ocean is of strategic importance to all its member nations and India is committed to take initiates to address the contemporary challenges and developmental aspirations of all nations on its rim. “We have taken a decision in the meeting to fully harness the potential of all IOR-related institutions that have been established over the years. He was encouraged by the overwhelming support for India’s chairmanship and enthusiasm for making Indian Ocean Association a vibrant grouping for promoting economic and trade relations; cooperation in education, tourism, fisheries; strengthening maritime security; combating piracy; disaster management; sharing best practices and experiences; to cite a few examples. All 19 of us are seafaring nations, enjoying the bounty of the mighty Indian Ocean. We also have the responsibility at the same time to further strengthen maritime security and do everything possible to enhance all-round cooperation among IOR-nations,” he said.

Thereafter, Australia would assume chairmanship for a further period of two years in 2013. To finance projects and studies of common interest in the region, India has decided to provide additional funding of $1 million (`5.5 crore, to the

Special Fund. Thereafter, Australia would assume chairmanship for a further period of two years in 2013.

Piracy A day before taking over as the chairperson of the IOR-ARC, Krishna highlighted the problems of piracy which is being faced in the Indian Ocean. He reiterated that countries in the Indian Ocean Rim will make concerted efforts to combat the growing menace of piracy, besides enhancing trade and business in the region. He told newsperson that the Indian Ocean Rim countries are concerned over the growing menace which is impacting the region and efforts would be made to arrive at a consensus to tackle the increasing menace. He has been having bilateral talks with ministers of various countries of the region and has singled out piracy as topmost on the agenda of the meeting and said that ‘’piracy is becoming a global scourge and it was necessary for all the countries involved to make collective efforts and drawing up strategy to fight it as it can’t be fought by a single country’’.

IOR-ARC and the Indian Navy The Indian Navy is also working with a parallel organisation which is devoted to security issues in the Indian Ocean region.

It is called the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) which has its basis in recognising the centrality of ‘constructive engagement’ as the primary means of achieving and assuring mutually beneficial maritime security, stability, safety and consequent collective prosperity amongst all littoral states of the Indian Ocean region. IONS provides a regional forum through which the Chiefs of Navy (or head of the principal maritime agency) of all the littoral states of the IOR can periodically meet to constructively engage one another through the creation and promotion of regionally relevant mechanisms, events and activities. In a way, IOR-ARC and IONS complement each other in achieving their economic as well as security goals. SP

Appointments zz Vice Admiral B. Kannan, Programme Director (ATVP), has taken over as Chief

of Material, IHQ, MoD (Navy), consequent upon retirement of Vice Admiral G. Mahadevan, on April 30, 2012.

zz Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, IHQ, MoD (Navy), has taken

over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, consequent upon retirement of Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil on May 31, 2012.

zz Vice Admiral P.K. Chatterji, Inspector General, Nuclear Safety, IHQ, MoD (Navy), has

been appointed as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, IHQ, MoD (Navy).

zz Vice Admiral Prabhat Raman, Director General, Naval Project, Mumbai, has been

appointed as Programme Director, ATVP.

zz Rear Admiral M.T. Moraes, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Submarines), on

promotion to Vice Admiral has been appointed as Inspector General, Nuclear Safety, IHQ, MoD (Navy).

zz Rear Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, has been

appointed as Assistant Chief Integrated Defence Staff (FP).

zz Rear Admiral H.C.S. Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, has been

appointed as Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD), IHQ, MoD (Navy).

zz Rear Admiral B.K. Verma, Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat Area, has been

appointed as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (IWOPS), IHQ, MoD (Navy).

zz Rear Admiral P. Ajit Kumar, Assistant Chief of Personnel (HRD), IHQ, MoD (Navy)

has been appointed as Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet.

zz Rear Admiral K.B. Singh, Chief of Staff, Andaman & Nicobar Command, has been

appointed as Flag Officer Maharashtra & Gujarat Area.

zz Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, Flag Officer, Naval Aviation/Flag Officer Goa Area, has

been appointed as Chief of Staff, Andaman & Nicobar Command.

zz Rear Admiral A.V. Subhedar, Admiral Superintendant, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai,

has been appointed as Director General, Naval Project, Mumbai.

zz Rear Admiral K.R. Nair, Admiral Superintendant Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, has

been appointed as Assistant Chief of Material (Information Technology and Systems).

zz Rear Admiral A.K. Bahl, Assistant Chief of Material (Information Technology and

Systems), has been appointed as Admiral Superintendant, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.

zz Rear Admiral G.S. Pabby, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Western Naval Command,

has been appointed as Admiral Superintendant, Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

zz Commodore B.S. Parhar, DACIDS, HQ IDS, on promotion to Rear Admiral has been

appointed as Flag Officer Naval Aviation/Flag Officer Goa Area.

zz Commodore K.K. Pandey, Principal Director Naval Signals on promotion to Rear

Admiral has been appointed as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Communications, Space & Network-Centric Operations).

zz Commodore M.S. Pawar, DACIDS, HQ IDS, on promotion to Rear Admiral has been

appointed as Officer on Special Duty with Chief of Personnel.

zz Commodore S.P. Lal, Officer on Special Duty with Chief of Material, on promotion

to Rear Admiral has been appointed as Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Western Naval Command.

Defence Minister at Shangri-La Dialogue Asia Pacific region. zz The seas around us are now believed

Defence Minister A.K. Antony was at Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore, on June 2, 2012, wherein he spoke on “Protecting Maritime Freedoms”. Excerpts: zz The revival of the concept of ‘Open Seas’ gained relevance when the needs of the Industrial Revolution in the West had to be fuelled by supplies from Asia and Africa. zz Unlike in the previous centuries, maritime freedoms cannot be the exclusive prerogative of a few. zz It has been widely recognised that maritime security is an indispensable and fundamental condition for the welfare and economic security of this region and the global community. zz In the 21st century, it is important to reaffirm the importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation for all. zz India’s own security and prosperity is intimately tied to the security and prosperity of the extended Indian Ocean region, which also includes the

to have substantial hydrocarbon potential and we will seek to increase our investments in the exploration of our maritime domain. zz Given India’s geographical location, the evolving asymmetric threats of maritime terrorism, piracy and drug trafficking, maritime security issues have become a strategic priority for us. zz As a matter of national policy, India has always championed and advocated adherence to the international regime which governs maritime freedoms. zz In our own case, particularly in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack, we have taken a number of measures to develop our coastal and maritime security capabilities. zz In this connection, keeping in view the issues which have arisen with regard to the South China Sea, India has welcomed the efforts of the parties concerned in engaging in discussions and the recently agreed guidelines on the implementation of the 2002. zz Declaration of the Conduct of Parties between China and the ASEAN. zz The growing menace of piracy needs to be thwarted and suppressed by robust anti-piracy operations, as well as through speedy prosecution of the guilty. zz India is actively engaged in the process of constructive dialogue on security issues with a number of countries. SP

26 - 30 March 2013 Langkawi, Malaysia

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13

News

News in Brief

By SP’s Special Correspondent Indian Navy to get dedicated satellite In a major leap in capabilities, the Indian Navy is to receive its first dedicated military communications satellite; the GSAT-7 shortly after it is put into orbit by the French Ariane-7 rocket. While not formally acknowledged to be a Navyonly satellite, the GSAT-7 is understood to be a 2.5-tonne satellite that will be used for military communications, largely by the Indian Navy. The satellite will give the Navy much needed bandwidth for quick and secure communications between its shore units, ships, submarines and aircraft. According to ISRO, the “GSAT-7 is a multi-band satellite carrying payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band.

The satellite weighs 2,330 kg with a payload power of 2,000 W. The configuration of the satellite has been finalised and the design of new payload elements is completed.”

Navy’s carrier fleet, but perhaps not in its current avatar.

The LCA Navy Mk.2, to be powered by the F414 engine, is likely to meet the Indian Navy’s requirements for aircraft carrier operations, and is more likely to be the aircraft that the navy orders in numbers. The STOBAR LCA Navy will operate off the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.

US Secretary of Defence Panetta in India

range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft requirement. Sources say the Navy will be inviting Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Dassault Aviation, Alenia Aeronautica, EADS CASA, Embraer, Saab and Bombardier. While Boeing will be looking to take advantage of inventory commonality on the P-8Is it has supplied for the Navy’s longrange maritime recon (LRMR) requirement, the US firm will compete this time with Lockheed Martin’s proposed C-130 Sea Hercules, the Bombardier-IAI-Elta Q400-based multi-mission maritime aircraft, Saab 2000, EADS CASA C-295 MP, Embraer P99 MP, Alenia ATR-72 MP and Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 900 MPA.

Indo-US naval war games in Indian Ocean

DCNS and Pipavav tie-up to build ships

French shipbuilding major DCNS and Indian private shipbuilder Pipavav are in the process of establishing a strategic partnership to bring DCNS technologies, methods and skills into Pipavav, one of India’s largest upcoming shipbuilding companies. The partnership is understood to be focused on bidding for Indian warship projects and building them in India using technologies from DCNS. The tieup will look to build ships for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. According to a joint statement, the partnership is aimed at boosting India’s drive for selfreliance in the field of defence manufacturing and to create a large number of local jobs.

On the back of a slew of high value defence deals with the US, India has conveyed that it is no longer interested in remaining in a buyer-seller relationship, and will exercise its rights as a customer to get the technologies that it needs. The US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta met his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony for an hour, a meeting where Antony is said to have said in no uncertain terms that military trade needed to move beyond simply the transfer of equipment. In a statement, the MoD said, “During the discussion of the defence trade, Antony emphasised that the priority for India is to move beyond the buyer-seller transactions and to focus on transfer of technologies and partnerships to build indigenous capabilities. The US Secretary of Defence assured the Indian side that the US Government will initiate measures to facilitate technology access and sharing.” Secretary Panetta on his part assured Antony that every effort would be made to meet India’s technology demands.

MDL calls for early decision on Project 75 India

Coast Guard inducts first of dozen ACVs

The Indian and US navies have completed another round of the Malabar series of joint exercises, off India’s eastern seaboard. The US Navy fielded ships from the Carrier Task Force (CTF) 70 of the US 7 Fleet based at Yokosuka in Japan, which has at its centre Nimitz class aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vision, accompanied by guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, guided missile destroyer USS Halsey and logistics vessel UNNS Bridge. Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine USS Louisville, Lockheed Martin P3C Orion and Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft were also part of the exercise.

Indian Navy commissions 3rd UAV squadron The Indian Navy has raised its third unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadron INAS 344 at INS Parundu naval air station in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, and will operate IAI Heron and Searcher Mk.2 surveillance UAVs from there. While the base will initially operate assets on detachment, it will receive new UAVs as they are inducted. The Navy commissioned its second squadron INAS 343 at Porbandar in January last year. The Navy is currently in the market for high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAVs and ship-borne unmanned rotorcraft.

diver-navigation systems for MARCOS

The Indian Coast Guard has inducted the first of the 12 advanced 8000TD hovercraft, H-187, designed and built by Griffon Hoverwork Limited (GHL), UK. The first air cushion vehicle (ACV) was commissioned by Coast Guard DG Vice Admiral M.P. Muralidharan in Okha, Gujarat, on June 11.

The 21-metre-long air cushion vehicle displaces 31 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 45 knots on two Iveco diesel engines. The ACV is capable of undertaking different tasks including surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to small boats/craft in distress at sea. The air cushion vehicle H-187 will be based at Okha.

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Finally, LCA Navy Flies After several stops and starts, and extremely complex technological hurdles, India’s first fighter aircraft, custombuilt for carrier operations took to the skies on its maiden flight today. The naval light combat aircraft (LCA-Navy) was to begin flight testing in December 2010, but a series of issues have kept it on the ground. The team, led by Commodore (Retd) C.D. Balaji and the National Flight Test Centre went through a gruelling routine of ground tests before confidence was finally built up for the successful 22-minute flight, piloted by Commodore Jaideep Avinash Maolankar and Wing Commander M. Prabhu. Both pilots reported that the aircraft responded as expected and that they were looking forward to the rest of the flight test programme. The LCA Navy will be part of the Indian

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With the Indian Navy likely to issue request for proposals (RFPs) for the long awaited follow-on Project 75 India submarine build effort, pressure is building for a quick decision on two counts. On the one hand, the Indian Navy’s submarine strength is on a downslide and operational availability continues to be a concern. On the other, there is a conscious effort to ensure that the redundancy encountered following the HDW episode in the 1990s is not repeated again. The first of the six Scorpene submarines being constructed at MDL is to be delivered by June 2015 and the final one by September 2018. MDL is concurrently building all six submarines.

Navy looking for indigenous survey vessels The Indian Navy has announced its interest in procuring four new-generation 2,000-3,000 tonne survey vessels, constructed indigenously by Indian shipbuilders for coastal and deep-water hydrographic and oceanographic surveys. The Navy currently has a fleet of 10 research and survey vessels, including eight Sandhayak-class ships.

The Navy has stipulated that the primary role of the new vessels will be full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of ports and harbours, approaches and determination of navigational channels/routes. In addition, surveys of maritime limits up to EEZ/extended continental shelf, collection of oceanographic and geophysical data for defence applications has also been specified.

RFP for MRMR to be issued soon The Indian Navy is expected to send out request for proposals (RFPs) shortly to eight vendors for its medium-

In a long overdue procurement of essential diver navigation systems for Indian Navy divers and MARCOS, the Navy is in the market for an initial purchase of 42 diver navigation systems (DNS). The DNS, as described by the Navy, is a portable hand-held device which allows a diver to navigate underwater to predetermined way-points/targets by indicating his position in real time on a software-based electronic map. The Navy has stipulated that the DNS needs to function down to a depth of 30 metres. DNS systems are standard issue devices with US Navy SEAL marine crack teams. The Indian MARCOS has tested DNS systems in the past, but purchases of such systems have been limited to a small number. With hydrographs, restoration, search and rescue, covert operations and anti-sabotage missions calling focus, the Navy has decided to arm its divers with the equipment they need for efficient execution.

DCNS’ `310 crore Scorpene deal Scorpene manufacturer DCNS’ Indian arm has a contract with SEC Industries worth `310 crore to indigenise equipment for Project 75 submarine line currently producing six Scorpenes for the Indian Navy. The contract with SEC Industries involves the manufacture of hull hatches, cofferdam doors, knuckle hoses, ballast vent valves, high pressure air cylinders, weapon handling and storage systems. In a statement, DCNS said, “Over the coming years, SEC will manufacture equipment under a transfer of technology provided by DCNS India and they will be progressively delivered to our customer, Mazagon Dock Limited, for integration onboard the P75 Scorpene submarines.” SP For complete versions, log on to: www.spsnavalforces.net & www.spsmai.com

News

INS Viraat completes 25 years

INS Viraat has completed 25 years in the Indian Navy. HMS Hermes became INS Viraat on May 12, 1987, under the command of Captain (later Vice Admiral) Vinod Pasricha. Commissioned in November 1959 as HMS Hermes, INS Viraat had then completed 28 years in the Royal Navy.

INS Viraat is one of the longest serving aircraft carriers in the history of naval operations anywhere in the world.

All major refits of Viraat have been undertaken by the Cochin Shipyard Limited. The extension of the ship’s life far beyond initial expectations stands as a testimony to the high levels of workmanship and dedication of the yard staff at the Cochin Shipyard.

Naval Commanders Conference 2012 The Naval Commanders’ Conference was held at New Delhi from May 8 to 10, 2012.

The Defence Minister A.K. Antony inaugurated the conference and complimented the Indian Navy on its all-round performance.

The CNS highlighted the following aspects: The necessity for the Indian Navy to incorporate quantum enhancement in technology, ranging from nuclear propulsion to advanced weapon platforms and networked systems, in view of the recent induction of INS Chakra, the impending arrival of INS Vikramaditya and the P8-I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft.

He was satisfied at the pace of modernisation and capability enhancement of the Indian Navy, which was proceeding as per the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan.

Four-five major warships and submarines were likely to be commissioned every year over the next five years and that naval aviation was poised for major growth in the years ahead. Considering the ongoing expansion programme of the Indian Navy, a new ‘safety organisation’ to enhance safe operations of ships, submarines and aircraft was also discussed. The Chief of the Naval Staff complimented all personnel of the Indian Navy for their professionalism and patriotism, and exhorted them to continue to meet the maritime security challenges faced by the nation.

increasingly on the Asia-Pacific region which underlines the significance of the Indian Ocean in global security affairs. zz In India we recognise that 80 per cent of the trade conducted across the Indian Ocean is extra regional; besides, of course, the global concerns of energy security. zz Today the global security environment is characterised by the changing nature of conflict, the predominant feature being that the challenges and their possible solutions are globalised in their character. zz The second comparison that I would like to highlight is in the context of capability building, particularly, shipbuilding. In 1972, INS Nilgiri, the first Leander class frigate built by Mazagon Docks, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. Today, we pride ourselves to be a ‘builders navy’. zz A generation ago, the Chief of our Navy would have had to contend with the challenges posed by a national psyche of ‘sea blindness’. Today the Government of India is completely seized of the imperative to have a credible maritime force. zz As our nation seeks to fulfil the

India-Japan exercise The Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force conducted their first ever bilateral exercise during the visit of four Indian Navy ships to Japan from June 5-9, 2012, as part of the scheduled Overseas Fleet Deployment. The exercise was conducted off the coast of Japan on June 9 and 10, 2012.

Chief of Naval Operations US Navy visits India

INS Teg commissioned

An advanced version of the Talwar class frigates which are already in service with Indian Navy, Teg, was commissioned by Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, at a ceremony at the Yantar Shipyard at Kaliningrad, Russia on April 27, 2012, where it has been built. The Talwar class guided missile frigates are modified Krivak III class frigates which use innovative stealth technologies to reduce its radar cross-section, infrared and magnetic signatures as well as radiated underwater noise. INS Teg (F45) is the fourth Talwar class frigate which include Talwar (F40), Trishul (F43), Tabar (F44) and Teg (F45).

Tarkash (F46) and Trikand (F50) are under

CNS, Admiral Nirmal Verma’s address at the IISS: excerpts

zz Today, the global gaze is focusing

construction and are likely to be commissioned by September 2012 and mid-2013 respectively.

legitimate aspirations of our people as manifest by the prevalent pace of growth and development, the Indian Navy aims to ensure a secure maritime environment. zz The need to ensure unhindered flow of oil is becoming a major maritime consideration, not only for our country but for other nations as well. zz On November 26, 2008, terrorists trained and equipped in Pakistan, attacked iconic sites in Mumbai, killing 174 people. Coastal security will therefore remain an important issue in our overall maritime security. zz “By the year 2025, three of the world’s four largest economies will be in Asia.

The region is also recognised as the ‘primary loci’ of ‘ostensible’ non-state threats in the world. Juxtaposed with these entities are three of the world’s four largest Armies, and at-least four declared nuclear weapon states”. zz In our view this warrants both ‘strategic autonomy’ and cooperative engagement. zz We are amongst the founding members of the ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’, or, IONS, having hosted the inaugural conference in New Delhi in 2008. zz We believed that we were truly poised to become a ‘Blue Water’ Navy. At the other end of the spectrum is the necessity to sustain strategic deterrence. India is the only nuclear weapon state to announce an unequivocal “no-firstuse commitment” and to declare that a world without nuclear weapons will enhance our collective security. In this backdrop, a retaliatory strike capability that is credible and invulnerable is an imperative. SP

Admiral Jonathan Greenert was on a fiveday visit to India. He first paid homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti, and was later presented with a Ceremonial Guard of Honour at South Block where he was received by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma. Later on, he called Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne and the Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt General S.K. Singh.

During his five-day visit, Admiral Greenert also visited units under the Western Naval Command at Mumbai, Karwar and Goa, followed by a visit to the training Command at Kochi.

Coast Guard Station commissioned A new Coast Guard Station has been commissioned at Androth island in Lakshadweep. The Force already operates two stations in the Lakshadweep Islands at Kavaratti, where District Headquarters No. 12 has been established in December and at Minicoy; both of which were commissioned by A.K. Antony in 2010.

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium 2012 The IONS Symposium 2012 was inaugurated at Cape Town, South Africa, by Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Government of South Africa on April 11, 2012. The Indian Navy was represented by Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of the Naval Staff. On the first day of the conference, he chaired the first panel discussion, the theme for which was ‘Indian Ocean Centre Stage for the 21st Century’.

Agni-V launched India’s maiden long-range ballistic missile (LRBM) AGNI-V (A-5) was successfully flight tested on April 19 from the launch pad at Wheeler’s Island in Odisha. The missile with a range of more than 5,000 km, followed the entire trajectory in copybook style perfection as the three stages of propulsion dropped and fell at appropriate intervals into the Bay of Bengal. The three propulsion stages, developed completely indigenously

by DRDO, performed exactly the way they were intended to. SP

INS Shivalik and PLA (N) Maíanshan passage exercise

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Indian Navy helicopter Chetak on PLA (N) Ship Ma’anshan and PLA (N) helicopter KV 28 on INS Shivalik

3/2012

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